Yesterday, October 15, was the Feast Day of St Teresa of Avila, and I felt the need to make some note of that this week.  While there are many things worth saying about Teresa, I want to share one brief, simple quote from her today,

“… prayer in my opinion is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us.”

Well, maybe not so “simple” after all.  Or is it?

It’s that word “friends” that has been on my mind for several days.

Is that part of the core of prayer for us?  Or does it make too light of who God is?  Does it detract from the holiness of God and the reverence due God?  But what of Jesus calling God, Abba?

“… a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us.”

“… close sharing …”  
“… taking time frequently to be alone …” 
“… who we know loves us”

Doesn’t that point to what friendship is?  And doesn’t that point to what gives friendship space to grow?  Maybe growth in prayer means something other than longer soliloquies and being more “bold” in what “we ask for.”  Might it be “friends” sharing more and more and getting to know the other more deeply?